Crash course in injuries

Chad Reed has enough personal experience with shoulder injuries that he probably could lecture on the subject at medical schools.

The Australian, who suffered three shoulder separations two years ago, knows the routine. And he knows how to ride his No. 22 Yamaha in pain.

Three weeks ago, however, Reed's research was taken to a higher level after he separated his shoulder again in pre-race practice and broke the scapula, or shoulder blade.

"Luckily, it's a big bone and held intact with big muscles," said the budding orthopedic consultant, who explained the scapula connects the arm bone with the collarbone.

But the thing that really got Reed's attention after the crash a few hours before the featured race at Ford Field in Detroit: Blood began gurgling in his throat and flowing from his mouth while he lay on the track.

That seems too extreme even for the high-flying sport of Supercross.

"With that kind of injury, 90 percent of the time you usually damage a rib or a lung," Reed said. "I suffered a lung contusion that caused the bleeding. It didn't dry up for a couple days.

"That never happened before."

The crash could have been catastrophic for Reed's AMA Supercross series title defense, but he was able to start the Detroit feature and muster a 12th-place finish.

The pain and anguish paid off for Reed, 26, when he won his second consecutive championship by finishing first Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 39,227 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

He started the night with a 10-point lead over Kevin Windham and needed to finish sixth or better to lock up the title. Windham finished second in the 20-lap feature.

No one expected Reed would be back to ride only hours after the Detroit crash that sent him tumbling over the handlebars.

No one except Reed.

Taking an ambulance ride has never been the preferred way to pass the time between practice and a money race.

"No, not at all," Reed said.

His bike landed on both wheels on a "table-top" before his front tire dug into the next jump. He was catapulted over the handlebars and landed awkwardly on his back.

Not earning any points would have seriously chewed into his 27-point lead over Windham in the two-man battle for the series championship.

After a four-hour stay in an emergency room, Reed returned to the stadium and salvaged a 12th-place finish to sustain a 16-point lead.

Over the following two weeks, the pain in his shoulder continued to dull, and he finished runner-up to Windham at St. Louis and in Seattle.

"Unfortunately, I've been in that position before," Reed said of riding injured. "Being in that situation sucks. I needed to get out there and be strong."

For Reed, like many of his competitors, riding with pain is as commonplace as conquering a jump or track obstacle.

In 2004, after separating his shoulder, Reed arrived in Las Vegas tied in points with Ricky Carmichael, who edged him for the title by two points by finishing the race one spot ahead in second.

"That was closer and more nerve-racking than this week," Reed said. "I haven't felt any stress. It was just go out and do my job."

But he won't cherish memories of this season, during which he missed a top-three finish in two straight races for the first time in his five-year career.

"There have been some record lows for me this year," he said. "I just want to finish the season and put an end to it."

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.